A JUDGE today spared a danger driver who crashed at speed an immediate prison sentence because of the “disgraceful” delay in bringing the case to court.

Recorder Richard Wright QC hit out at the 14-month gap between Kasim Ali writing off his Volkswagen Golf on Sticker Lane in Bradford and him receiving the postal requisition notice.

Ali, 24, of Thornbury Avenue, Bradford Moor, Bradford, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to dangerous driving shortly after 10pm on October 10, 2019.

Bradford Crown Court heard that he was pursued by the police across central Bradford before hitting a parked car and spinning into a lamppost and a crash barrier.

Both vehicles were written off in the “massive impact,” the court was told.

Ali fell out of the car smelling strongly of intoxicants and his eyes were glazed after the chase which lasted under two minutes.

He made no admissions in his police interview.

The court heard that aggravating features of the case were the fact that Ali was pursued by the police, his state of intoxication, the serious damage to both cars and the fact that he had a passenger.

Jeremy Hill-Baker, Ali’s barrister, conceded that had the case been dealt with promptly, an immediate prison sentence would have been inevitable.

But “the unconscionable delay” of more than two years was no fault of Ali’s.

He had been in no trouble since “the appalling piece of driving” and he had no convic-tions for similar offences.

Mr Hill-Baker said that Ali was in very poor health. Medical evidence and letters from family members supported the fact that he suffered from several serious illnesses and would find custody extremely difficult.

Recorder Wright said he wanted the public to know that he must factor “the completely unacceptable and inexplicable” delay in summoning Ali to court in the sentence that he passed.

He would have gone to prison for 12 months but because of the long wait and his medical problems, it would be suspended.

“It’s not a sentence that the defendant deserves,” he added.

Recorder Wright said the roads were busy when Ali sped off from the police while drunk. He crashed in a “massive impact” that damaged two vehicles and street furniture.

But it had taken the police and the Crown Prosecution Service 14 months to send out the postal requisition.

“That sort of delay is a complete disgrace and lets down the public and the justice system,” he said.

Ali received a stand-alone sentence of 12 months suspended for two years with a two-year driving ban. He must pass an extended retest before he drives again.